[External skeletal compression fixation and lengthening for shortened limb with non-union and deformity]

From Oct. 1982 to Dec. 1988, external skeletal compression fixator of half-ring sulcated type was used on 12 patients, aged 8 to 12, for treatment of shortened leg with non-union and bone defect, 7 of which were in tibia and 5 in femur. Scar tissue between fragment ends that interfered contact was cleared off for proper apposition and stability. 12 the non-union healed up in 4 to 6 months. In 5 patients with open epiphyses, distraction epiphysiolysis for lengthening was simultaneously performed in addition to compression at the non-union site; the lengths gained range from 4 to 13.5 cm, with an average of 9.8 cm. The lengthened region got repaired with in-growing bone in 5 to 10 months. In 7 patients with closed epiphyses; metamyseal osteotomy was done in combination for lengthening too; the lengths obtained were 3 to 16 cm, averaging 7.8 cm. The distraction gap was obliterated by in-growing bone in 4 to 16 months. In one case, metaphyseal osteotomy was performed on both ends of the tibia to get longer length to make up the tibial shaft defect of 8 cm; both non-union and lengthening segments healed up in 6 months. Neither neural nor vascular damage has occurred in any case, advantages and indications of the operation was discussed, and the surgical procedure was described.